I don't know, it's hard to square with fellow band members saying it was a gay song + the culture of the day understanding it as such + the YMCA itself distancing from it due to the gay subtext and said cultural understanding + the context of the local YMCA in Greenwich Village which is the song's inspiration being a known gay forum + Greenwich Village itself being a known gay hotspot in NYC at the time and the fact that that place is where the band derived it's stage name from
Man for all we know he was pressured to take that stance. How can one argue against the contemporary consensus about the song? Unless that narrative was a fake news smear campaign from 50 years ago. Needless to say I doubt I'd be able to contact the author of the song with my measley ass. kek
All I know is what he said. You don't know anything. Contemporary "consensus"? It seems that the "consensus" about the word "queer" is that it simply refers to homosexuality. This came up in a discussion about L. Frank Baum and the Oz stories, where "queer" plainly meant something that was Unusually Abnormal. Was Baum writing about homosexuals? Absolutely not.
The songwriter hadn't been heard from in years. No one thought about him, but he was disturbed that his song was being taken as a "gay anthem." You can track him down. You can write an open letter to him. I doubt you would be able to contact him, also, because you give up in advance of doing anything.
I can see either or being the case. However it should be noted that the YMCA organization itself tried to distance from the song due to the way it was received at the time, so at the very least, they were completely tone-deaf in dropping a song that would be so easily perceived as a homo anthem. I could of course be putting the cart before the horse here.
From AI-
At the time, the YMCA was still largely perceived as a family-oriented and wholesome organization, and the song's connection to gay culture stirred some unease among conservative members of the organization. The lyrics and the music video, which depicted men having fun in a way that could be interpreted as flirtatious, led to concerns that the song could overshadow the organization's mission and values.
Some local YMCAs reportedly tried to distance themselves from the song, especially when it became a popular party anthem in gay clubs. The organization faced a dilemma: while the song contributed positively to visibility for the LGBTQ+ community, it also potentially conflicted with the YMCA's image as a family-friendly establishment.
Despite this tension, the song's catchy tune and widespread popularity ultimately made it a cultural phenomenon, and the YMCA came to embrace its association with the song over time, recognizing its role in promoting inclusion and diversity. The song remains a significant part of both the YMCA's history and LGBTQ+ culture.
I mean I could write the guy but I doubt he'd reply to a non-public figure. Regardless of that, the abundance of sentiment from the time of the song's release and subsequent years after rings quite another tune... When did the author make the claim that it wasn't about homosexual comradery? (apologies if you already stated the date, I'm half asleep)
I don't know, it's hard to square with fellow band members saying it was a gay song + the culture of the day understanding it as such + the YMCA itself distancing from it due to the gay subtext and said cultural understanding + the context of the local YMCA in Greenwich Village which is the song's inspiration being a known gay forum + Greenwich Village itself being a known gay hotspot in NYC at the time and the fact that that place is where the band derived it's stage name from
So, you go tell the songwriter he is wrong. I'm sure he will hear you respectfully.
Man for all we know he was pressured to take that stance. How can one argue against the contemporary consensus about the song? Unless that narrative was a fake news smear campaign from 50 years ago. Needless to say I doubt I'd be able to contact the author of the song with my measley ass. kek
All I know is what he said. You don't know anything. Contemporary "consensus"? It seems that the "consensus" about the word "queer" is that it simply refers to homosexuality. This came up in a discussion about L. Frank Baum and the Oz stories, where "queer" plainly meant something that was Unusually Abnormal. Was Baum writing about homosexuals? Absolutely not.
The songwriter hadn't been heard from in years. No one thought about him, but he was disturbed that his song was being taken as a "gay anthem." You can track him down. You can write an open letter to him. I doubt you would be able to contact him, also, because you give up in advance of doing anything.
Ok, I did a google. 2017
https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/village-people-founder-victor-willis-on-why-ymca-wasnt-a-gay-song/news-story/6a5c7a926bf8bb235d1bea9ceb0d6a92
compare with
https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/the-real-story-of-the-ymca-that-inspired-the-village-peoples-gay-anthem
I can see either or being the case. However it should be noted that the YMCA organization itself tried to distance from the song due to the way it was received at the time, so at the very least, they were completely tone-deaf in dropping a song that would be so easily perceived as a homo anthem. I could of course be putting the cart before the horse here.
From AI-
At the time, the YMCA was still largely perceived as a family-oriented and wholesome organization, and the song's connection to gay culture stirred some unease among conservative members of the organization. The lyrics and the music video, which depicted men having fun in a way that could be interpreted as flirtatious, led to concerns that the song could overshadow the organization's mission and values.
Some local YMCAs reportedly tried to distance themselves from the song, especially when it became a popular party anthem in gay clubs. The organization faced a dilemma: while the song contributed positively to visibility for the LGBTQ+ community, it also potentially conflicted with the YMCA's image as a family-friendly establishment.
Despite this tension, the song's catchy tune and widespread popularity ultimately made it a cultural phenomenon, and the YMCA came to embrace its association with the song over time, recognizing its role in promoting inclusion and diversity. The song remains a significant part of both the YMCA's history and LGBTQ+ culture.
I mean I could write the guy but I doubt he'd reply to a non-public figure. Regardless of that, the abundance of sentiment from the time of the song's release and subsequent years after rings quite another tune... When did the author make the claim that it wasn't about homosexual comradery? (apologies if you already stated the date, I'm half asleep)